THE air of predictability which had hung around Gleneagles for much of

last week, blew over to Haggs Castle yesterday where Raymond Russell

sauntered to victory in the Cameron Corbett Vase with seven strokes in

hand over joint runners-up Barclay Howard and Dean Robertson.

As with Jesper Parnevik, Russell was not pushed throughout his final

two rounds. He was steady if unspectacular and by building such a wall

of consistency around himself, the newest addition to Scotland's Walker

Cup club became virtually impossible to assault.

Russell did not three-putt a green in 72 holes. Leading by three

strokes at the halfway stage, thanks to a second round 67, which

featured half a dozen birdies, he then went on to match regulation on

his third circuit.

And this effort was good enough to extend his lead to five strokes.

When a player as competent as Russell takes that sort of advantage

into a final round, it is safe to commence the engraving process on the

trophy.

Further confirmation was provided by three birdies in his first four

holes.

Ahead of him, the Cochrane Castle duo of Howard and Robertson were

trying to remain in step with closing 68s, but it was too late merely to

bekeeping up.

While they had the consolation of carving up the minor places, Russell

posted a 69 which gave him a 10-under par total of 278, one of the best

on record.

''I felt I had a point to prove after Scotland's disappointing

performance at the European Championship last week,'' said Russell after

racking up his third 72-hole Scottish title of the year.

He now turns his sights on Europe again today when he heads to Breda

to compete in the Dutch Youths Championship. Final aggregates:

278 -- R Russell (Longniddry) 70, 67, 72, 69.

285 -- D B Howard (Cochrane Castle) 74, 71, 72, 68; D Robertson

(Cochrane Castle) 71, 73, 73, 68.

288 -- C Watson (East Renfrewshire) 74, 73, 70, 71.

289 -- C Elliott (Carrickvale) 72, 70, 74, 73; G Rankin (Palacerigg)

75, 67, 75, 72.

290 -- J Milligan (Barassie) 75, 71, 73, 71; R Clark (Erskine) 71, 73,

70, 76.

291 -- C Hislop (Powfoot) 76, 72, 72, 71.

292 -- S Mackenzie (West Linton) 71, 74, 72, 75; D Kirkpatrick

(Tantallon) 76, 69, 71, 76; D Downie (Ladybank ) 72, 68, 78, 74; R

Jenkins (Crow Wood) 73, 74, 73, 72; G Lowson (Crieff) 73, 71, 72, 76.

* TOMMY Cochrane won the Fife match-play championship for the fourth

time yesterday at Dunfermline, by beating home member Robert Pennycook 4

and 3 in the final.

Cochrane, from Dunnikier Park, had advanced to the final at the

expense of East of Scotland Open champion Stuart Meiklejohn, whom he

defeated on the final green. Pennycook was taken to the nineteenth

before shaking off Leven's Gary Beveridge. Results:

Semi-finals -- T Cochrane (Dunnikier Park) beat S Meiklejohn

(Aberdour) one hole; R Pennycook (Dunfermline) beat G Beveridge (Leven)

at the nineteenth.

Final -- Cochrane beat Pennycook 4 and 3.